Youth work in Rovaniemi is a municipal service
The municipal youth services in Rovaniemi consist of a variety of activities which all share the common aim to offer the youngsters equal and high quality possibilities of participation and sense of belonging to the community. We aim to offer an interesting and educative programme for the young people. The guiding values our work are safety, equality, participation and creativity. All our activity comply with the Youth Act and the ethical code for youth work drawn by the national umbrella organisations for youth work and youth workers. All our youth workers are trained professionals with at least a vocational upper secondary qualification. One of our responsibilities as a public operator is to support the youth activities of the local 3rd sector organisations and NGO’s.
Rovaniemi youth service department is active in the social media. Visit our accounts to learn
more about our activities in Facebook and in Instagram @popparirollo! Below you will find a summary of the services we provide.
Youth information and counselling
One way of promoting young people’s wellbeing and independence is to provide low-threshold, reliable information and counselling about the variety of issues important in young people’s lives. The channels to provide youth information are through digital channels (website, social media accounts) and the youth information centre Poppari. The secondary target of youth information service is to offer information about youth and young people's life to adults.
Outreach youth work
Outreach youth work offers low-threshold individual support for young people under the age of 29, especially in difficult situations. The aim is to promote the development of young people, help them become independent and take control of their lives, participate in the society while also assisting them in accessing education and the job market (transition phase work). Outreach youth work is free of charge and is based on voluntary participation. Working methods include service counselling, individual work and targeted group activities, as well as multi-professional networking.
Street youth work
In street youth work the youth workers meet youngsters in their usual meeting places around the urban area such as shopping malls, school yards, sport fields and parks. This gives youth workers the possibility to reach out to youngsters who don’t attend to other youth activities. Street youth work aims to increase the presence of safe adults in the life of youngsters and to inform them about the variety of services and activities available. In Rovaniemi the street youth work is done in cooperation by the outreach youth workers, regional youth workers and the local church youth workers.
Subsidies for local youth associations
The municipality supports local youth activities by granting subsidies to local associations and youth groups. There are two types of subsidies, one that is granted once a year for the youth work done by the associations, another that can be applied for individual youth activities such as events or workshops.
Regional youth services
Regional youth work is problem preventive municipal youth work that promotes the wellbeing and social inclusion of the young people. The regional youth workers are responsible for the youth house activities and the youth work in the schools of their area. They cooperate with the other local organisations in order to offer the youngsters a sense of community and possibilities to participate in interesting activities. In all the activities the young people have the possibility to an individual support and guidance from the youth worker closest to them.
In the regional youth houses we offer open evenings as well as group activities and thematic clubs. The youth houses are usually situated close to the local upper secondary schools, often inside the school building.
Regional youth workers operate in eight areas of Rovaniemi:
- the city center from the youth information centre Poppari
- in Korkalovaara currently from the Korkalovaara school
- in Ounasvaara from the youth house Ounari
- in Nivavaara from the youth house Nappari
- in Ylikylä-Vennivaara from the youth house Ylläri
- in lower Kemijoki area from the youth house Murkku (in Muurola village)
- in upper Kemijoki area from the youth house Vantus (in Vanttauskoski village)
- in lower Ounasjoki area from the youth house Zillari (in Sinettä village).
Youth work in schools
In Rovaniemi the youth work in schools is carried out in cooperation between schools and youth services. Cooperation is natural as schools and youth work both support homes in educating children and youngsters. Youth work at schools is primarily available at upper comprehensive schools, but also at primary schools and upper secondary schools depending on requirements and resources. Youth work in schools aims to develop the schools’ activities and to improve the atmosphere and pupils’ motivation by using youth work based methods. Youth workers also organise action based lessons on various topics (intoxicant abuse, bullying, social media, etc.). The presence of youth workers in schools is important because their main purpose there is to be a safe adult contact to the pupils whereas the other professionals working in schools have more responsibilities.
Flexible basic training class (JOPE)
In flexible basic training a pupil completes comprehensive school by studying in a
small group with the help of flexible education methods. The activities are planned and executed in cooperation with the responsible teacher and a trained youth worker. The aim of the JOPE activity is to provide all the pupils with tools of self-motivation to finish the basic education and continue to further studies. Another aim is to strengthen the pupil's self-esteem, social skills and life management. All the pupils of the flexible basic training get an individual study plan.
JOPE applies different learning environments:
- project based learning,
- work placements (7-8 weeks during the school year),
- camps, day trips and visits.
In Rovaniemi JOPE classes are available at four schools: Korkalovaara, Ounasvaara and Rantavitikka Comprehensive Schools and the Arctic Circle Upper Comprehensive School.
Cultural youth work
Cultural youth work supports young people’s sense of identity and strengthens their life management skills using methods of art, manual activities and other forms of cultural expression. Cultural youth work offers young people opportunities to create and participate in interaction with others. The activities organised in cultural youth work are the following:
- events
- group activities
- training and courses
- gaming
- sport.
Cultural youth work is coordinated from the cultural center Monde.
Rovaniemi Rock Academy
Rock Academy is a project that aims to give youth bands and young musicians competences and skills they need in order to become professionals and make music their livelihood if that is their long-term plan. Rock Academy gives the young musicians information about the music industry and teaches them marketing tactics. They get to make their own demo recordings and music videos as well as get support in organising gigs. So called “clinics” bring together young people and successful artists and other professionals of the music industry. The clinics are public events for anyone interested.
Rock Academy is one form of cultural youth work and it is provided in cooperation by the Youth Services and Rovaniemi Music Library.
International youth work
International youth work offers international activities and education to young people as well as international training and networking opportunities to youth work professionals.
Forms of international activities:
- European Solidarity Corps projects (individual volunteering, youth exchanges in group, local solidarity projects),
- cooperation between sister cities,
- international trainings and seminars,
- events organised in international cooperation.
International youth work is coordinated from the cultural center Monde.
Digital youth work
Digital youth work is the services and activities offered to young people online and using digital media and technology. Youth workers can reach youngsters and give them guidance online using digital tools and platforms. Providing youth information and counselling through internet as well as chatting with the youngsters via social media are also forms of digital youth work. It is also possible to organise online group activities, campaigns and events like gaming events.
Digital youth work aims to increase the presence of safe adults in the digital environment. Through digital services it is possible to reach young people who don’t want to or can’t use the face-to-face services due to various reasons.
Activities during school holidays
Rovaniemi youth services organise activities for children and young people also during school holidays. The activities are planned on a yearly basis for different age groups taking into consideration current trends and the feedback from the previous years. Usually the activities consist of traffic park and summer camps for children, thematic events and workshops for youngsters and young adults. The youth information centre Poppari remains open also during summer. The only period that usually makes a break in the youth service activities is Christmas holidays.
The premises of Rovaniemi Youth Services
Youth information centre Poppari
Poppari is a youth information centre for the youngsters between the age of 13 and 29. There is also a self-service point of the library open to all ages. It is open mainly all year on weekdays in the afternoon. Poppari is situated in the city center inside the shopping center Revontuli. The staff consists of three permanent full-time youth workers who all have a bachelor's degree in youth work or social services and several years of work history. Poppari takes active part in multi-professional cooperation with the city social services and the police amongst others.
Cultural centre Monde
Cultural centre Monde offers facilities for a variety of events and especially for cultural activities. The premises were renovated in 2020. Now there are a hall with a performing stage, a café, a recording studio and a digital gaming house Montendo. The youth services use Monde for youth activities. The municipal culture services as well as local associations and individual groups can also make reservations at Monde for organising activities and events.
Regional youth houses
There are six regional youth houses run by the municipal youth services at the moment. Three of them are located in the urban area:
- Ounari in the Ounasrinne Comprehensive School building,
- Nappari in the Napapiiri Upper Comprehensive School,
- Ylläri in the proximity of Ylikylä Lower Comprehensive School.
The ancient youth house Hilla in the Korkalovaara area is closed permanently but alternative premises are being explored.
Three of the regional youth houses are situated in the villages outside the city center:
- Zillari in the village of Sinettä,
- Murkku in the village of Muurola,
- Vantus in the village of Vanttauskoski.
The village youth houses are situated inside the local school buildings.
Leirikari Camping Center
Leirikari camping centre is located by the Kemijoki river 37 kilometres from Rovaniemi via road 81 to Kuusamo direction. Leirikari offers vast areas for outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming and fishing. The camping center accommodation can be used during the summer and winter. The camping center operates as a self-service facility and has been mainly designed to serve the needs of child and youth work as well as voluntary associations. The facilities are taken care by the camping center’s janitor.
Enquiries about Leirikari as well as group reservations should be addressed to Osviitta Service Centre by email: info.osviitta@rovaniemi.fi.
Rovaniemi Traffic Park
Rovaniemi traffic park offers activities for children between the ages of 6 and 12 years during summer holidays in June and July. It is situated on Miehentie road in the proximity of Korkalovaara Comprehensive School. The youth workers give children traffic education and offer them additional activities like games and crafts. The children can use the park for practising the traffic rules with the pedal cars provided by the youth services or with their own bikes and kick-scooters.